Gosiame Thamara Sithole made headlines for making some big additions her family. The South African mom is believed to have given birth to 10 babies at once.
The 37-year-old is already mom to 6-year-old twins. She initially thought she was having eight babies, which was already a feat for a natural pregnancy. When she went in for a C-section, she ended up with 10 babies. If this news is confirmed, she will have broken the record held by Guinness World Record held by Malian Halima Cissé, who gave birth to nine children in Morocco in May 2021.
The family has already gotten an outpouring of support from the public. But now Gosiame's husband, Teboho Tsotetsi, is asking that the public refrain from donating until both he and they have gotten the chance to see the babies in person.
The story of a South African woman who has reportedly given birth to 10 children at once has been filled with twists and turns. Gosiame Thamara Sithole, a 37-year-old mother of twin 6-year-olds who allegedly naturally became pregnant with multiples, believed she'd be welcoming octuplets. When it came time for the birth, she was surprised with an additional two babies.
"It's seven boys and three girls," dad Teboho Tsotetsi originally told Pretoria News. "She was seven months and seven days pregnant. I am happy. I am emotional. I can't talk much. Let's talk again in the morning, please."
He wasn't with his wife when the children were born because of COVID-19 restrictions. There are conflicting reports as to what hospital the children were born in and where they are currently being treated. It's believed five were born naturally and the rest were delivered via C-section.
"It is a very unique situation," Teboho shared. "They are premature, they are still incubated. Very small as you can think — 10 children in one womb that normally carries one baby."
He added: "They are very small, so the sensitivity that goes into that, even the doctors, they don't want to risk that. People will see the babies at the right time."
Gosiame hasn't been in contact with anyone since the birth, reportedly for religious and cultural reasons. As a result, no one has been able to verify the birth. Once it has been verified by the proper authorities, she will hold the Guinness World Record for most children born at once.
Teboho doesn't want the public to feel defrauded. That's why he's asking that despite the outpouring of generosity, including donations, that the public stop until they get the chance to see the children, who are continuing to be cared for after the premature birth.
"I appreciate the financial support that we have been getting from members of the public, but I also would like to appeal to the public to stop making money deposits into our accounts until members of the community have seen the babies," he said.
Members of Teboho's family are concerned about what is happening. They opened a missing person's case as they don't know Gosiame's whereabouts and don't understand why she isn't being forthcoming with situation. They add that her twins, who are staying with Teboho's mother, are also concerned and miss their mother.
This story first appeared on LittleThings in June 2021.
